Veteran Services

Memorial Service

Those who honor our country through the selfless sacrifice of military service deserve, themselves, to be honored. At Hennessey Funeral Home & Crematory, we believe in paying proper respects to military service members and veterans both as they live and as they pass on from this world. Whether the desire is for a full military service or simply a small family funeral, we are committed to offering burial and memorial services that honor, respect, and provide true meaning to those gathered in mourning.

The Benefits of Military and Veteran Services

There are a number of benefits that come from planning a military service—and the foremost one is simply being able to honor, in some small fashion, those who have given so much for our nation. A military burial service is not just an important way to pay respects to our service veterans, but also their families.

Other Benefits Include:

A United States flag is provided at no cost to drape over the casket or to accompany the urn; it is provided to the next-of-kin following the service.

Headstones, markers, or medallions can be obtained at no cost from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Families may receive the Presidential Memorial Certificate, which is signed by the current president.

Military funerals can take place in private cemeteries or in veteran cemeteries.

Eligibility for Military Funerals at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, and other national or state veterans cemeteries.

The Funeral Honors Ceremony

The basic Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veteran's family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.

The Funeral Honors rendered to you or your veteran will be determined by the status of the veteran. The type of Funeral Honors may be Full Military Honors, 7 Person Detail or a Standard Honors Team Detail.

At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the veteran/family.

Any person separated from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions or whose character of service results in a bar to veteran's benefits.

Any person who was ordered to report to an induction station, but was not actually inducted into military service.

Any person discharged from the Selected Reserve prior to completing one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service for reasons other than a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Any person convicted of a Federal or State capital crime sentenced to death or life imprisonment.

The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard Form 180 and sending it to:

Yes. Members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as members of a Uniformed Service, are also eligible to receive funeral honors.

For NOAA personnel, eligibility is established using NOAA Form 56-16, Report of Transfer or Discharge. If the family does not have a copy of the NOAA Form 56-16, it may by obtained by contacting the Chief, Officer Services Division, NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center at (301) 713-7715. or by writing:

For PHS personnel, funeral honors eligibility is established using PHS Form 1867, Statement of Service (equivalent to the DD Form 214). If the family does not have a copy of the Statement of Service, it may be obtained by contacting the Privacy Coordinator for the Commissioned Corps at (240) 453-6041 or writing: